Essay about The Fight Within

Submitted By elena131245
Words: 729
Pages: 3

The Fight Within. Moral injury occurs when one is put in a situation where his actions are perceived as a deep moral violation. Although most will consider war or combat-like circumstances to be the only place where moral injury can originate, there are other instances where it may occur. “Moral injury” by definition, is a construct that describes the aftermath of a harmful life experience. An event may be considered morally injurious if it transgresses deeply held moral beliefs and expectations. “Atonement” by Dexter Filkins, an article that follows one marine’s emotional struggle after returning from Iraq will show an example of moral injury. “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell will also depict a case of moral injury but on a smaller scale as well as under different circumstances. Comparing these articles will show that moral injury can occur in both severe and mildly traumatic experiences and depends on a number of different factors. Humans are equipped with their own personal sense of right and wrong. As Harvard Professor Mark D. Houser believed, humans are born with moral DNA wired into them by evolution. However what seems right to some may seem wrong to others. When reading Atonement it is evident that Lobello is tormented and traumatized by what happened as much as the family is, “There is not a day or a week that goes by that I don’t think about what we went through,” he said upon meeting them. (Filkins 14) He says “we” almost as if he was part of the family, indicating the depth of the pain he felt. In contrast when another marine from Lobellos unit, John Liles, was interviewed he said “I don’t have a problem with what we did that day” (Filkins 12). He felt that he performed his duty and was protecting his team. Based on this one can concur that it is in fact the concept of right and wrong in humans that effects their ethical believes. It is evident that the effects depend on the individual and not the event itself. While ones’ personal code of ethics plays a big role in persons suffering from moral injury, it is not the only factor. Although the concept of moral injury stays the same, it may occur in a number of different situations. In Atonement the author paints a gruesome scene. It is evident that Lobello is experiencing moral injury. He says “I want to apologize but not for my actions”,(Filkins 8) which means that even though he felt guilty and even ruined as a human being he did not feel guilty as a soldier who followed orders that he believed to be right at the time. On the other hand Shooting an Elephant is a different scenario. When Orwell is faced